Rising food costs and operational pressures, combined with the Government’s modest 3p per meal increase to Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) – from £2.58 to £2.61 for the 2025-26 academic year – have made it increasingly challenging for some Local Authorities (LAs) to maintain in-house school catering.
In recent months, several councils, including Hampshire County Council and Cheshire East Council, have confirmed they will stop providing their own education catering services. For those whose Local Authority is ceasing to provide a school meals service, the question becomes: what next?
One option is in-house catering
One option is to take catering in-house. Doing so gives schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) full control over their food provision – from menus and pricing to recruitment, culture, and community engagement.
Done well, an in-house model can be more cost-effective than using an external contractor, avoiding management fees and profit margins, while allowing the catering team to feel part of the wider school community. It offers greater flexibility to respond quickly to pupil preferences, dietary trends, and school events.
However, in-house catering is not without its challenges. Success relies on strong leadership, sound financial management, and clear accountability. Without these, savings and standards can quickly slip. Effective systems, structure, and support are essential to make the model work long-term.
The power of collaboration
Schools considering this route don’t have to go it alone. In fact, joining forces with other schools to form a catering ‘cluster’ can help unlock economies of scale and strengthen buying power. One small primary school with 175 pupils cannot compete with a cluster of 50 schools serving 8,750 pupils.
But knowing where to start can be daunting – from setting up supplier agreements and managing compliance, to streamlining stock control and reporting.
That’s where we can help. As specialists in education catering, we support schools and MATs in exploring and setting up in-house catering operations – as well as assisting schools form clusters together.
Introducing Litmus Edge – the platform designed for in-house success
Created specifically for the education sector, Litmus Edge is our specialist in-house food procurement and catering management system that brings everything together on one innovative platform. It’s designed to revolutionise the way schools run their in-house food operations – reducing costs, improving visibility, and freeing up staff time.
Schools using Litmus Edge typically achieve:
- Up to 20% reduction in overall catering costs, unlocking essential funds to increase the amount of ‘spend on the plate’.
- 15 hours per month saved on kitchen administration through automation and streamlined processes.
- Single-point ordering and consolidated invoicing, removing the need for multiple systems and cumbersome paperwork.
- Streamlined stock management and EHO compliance management.
- Real-time, end-to-end dashboard reporting.
- Simplified team, task and diary management, helping kitchen staff focus more on food quality and less on paperwork.
At Litmus, we understand the complex challenges schools face when it comes to food procurement, kitchen management, and in-house catering services. Litmus Edge enables schools to reduce procurement costs and administration time, freeing up resources to increase value and spend on the plate – allowing catering teams to focus on producing great-tasting, nutritious food and reducing waste.
Mapping the best way forward
For schools considering taking their catering in-house, our consultancy services can provide strategic and operational guidance – from feasibility assessments and financial modelling to menu planning and supplier negotiations.
By combining hands-on consultancy with innovative technology, we can help ensure schools have the tools, insight, and support needed to run a successful and sustainable in-house catering operation.
If your Local Authority is withdrawing school meals provision, taking catering in-house could give you greater control, flexibility, and value for money – but it’s a big step that requires the right structure and systems to make it a success.
Contact us today to see how we can support your school or Trust.
The Litmus team
